Chery Tiggo Cross 2025 Review

The B-segment SUV market has become increasingly competitive in Malaysia in recent years. Consumers desire fuel economy for daily commuting, while also valuing practicality in space and intelligent features. Chery’s 2025 Tiggo Cross series, launched in June, perfectly meets these demands—especially the 1.5T petrol version (Tiggo Cross Turbo), priced at RM 88,800, which packs in advanced features like six airbags, ACC adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree surround view camera system, offering exceptional value for money. This test drive aims to evaluate whether its static performance is solid, whether the dynamic experience satisfies the daily needs of family users, and whether its configuration advantages truly translate to convenience in real-world use.

The Tiggo Cross Turbo’s exterior instantly grabs attention at first glance, with an overall style that leans youthful without being over-the-top. The front end features a large blacked-out grille, centered with Chery’s metallic logo. The LED headlights on both sides are connected by a chrome strip, visually widening the front. The lower front lip incorporates black plastic cladding, adding a hint of rugged SUV style. The side profile displays smooth lines, with a body line extending from the fender to the rear. It’s not overly sharp but still provides depth and character. The 18-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels paired with 225/55 R18 tires are just right in proportion, avoiding a top-heavy appearance. The rear design is relatively simple, featuring continuous LED taillights with a striking lighting effect when braking. The silver skid plate and dual exhaust tips (decorative) on the rear bumper further enhance the sporty vibe. Overall, its exterior is "pleasantly enduring" — distinct on the road without being ostentatious, making it suitable for family users.

Stepping inside, the interior quality surpasses expectations for its price range. The dashboard is covered with soft-touch materials, and areas frequently touched by hand are not hard plastic. Paired with silver trim accents, it manages to feel fairly high-end. The 10.25-inch instrument cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment screen are joined together, creating a dual-screen-like design. The screen resolution is clear, and the infotainment screen is responsive to touch, supporting Bluetooth, CarPlay, and Android Auto—more than convenient for daily use. The multifunction steering wheel provides controls for media and the voice assistant on the left, and controls for ACC cruise and the trip computer on the right. Button feedback is tactile, allowing for operation without needing to look down. As for features, the attention to detail is impressive: keyless entry and start are standard, the front seats offer 6-way electric adjustment for the driver and 4-way manual adjustment for the passenger, and the seat cushioning strikes a good balance between softness and support. The dual-zone automatic climate control system includes rear air vents, ensuring that rear passengers cool down quickly during hot weather. The 360-degree surround view camera system is high-definition, making parking easy; even curbs are clearly visible, which is especially helpful for new drivers.

Space performance fully aligns with the positioning of a B-segment SUV. The vehicle dimensions are 4318mm in length, 1830mm in width, and 1670mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2610mm—placing it in the upper range within the segment. After adjusting the front seats to a comfortable driving position, a passenger with a height of 175cm still has a fist and two fingers’ worth of headroom. In the rear, a 175cm passenger enjoys two fists of legroom and a fist of headroom, without knees hitting the back of the front seats. The center floor has a small bump, making it feasible to seat three people without excessive crowding. The trunk offers a standard capacity of 380L, which can fit two 28-inch suitcases plus a carry-on bag without issue. The rear seats can fold down in a 60:40 split, creating an almost flat surface when folded, allowing occasional transport of large objects (like strollers or folding bicycles). Regarding storage spaces, there is a compartment under the center console with space for a wireless charger (although the petrol version tested here does not include it). The door pockets can hold two large water bottles, and the center armrest box is deep enough for small daily items, ensuring ample storage options.

Dynamic section, the parameters of the 1.5T turbocharged engine are 147PS maximum horsepower and 210N·m maximum torque, paired with a 6-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. The power output is tuned to be very smooth. At start-up, the throttle response is not overly aggressive, but light tapping can make you feel the power without feeling "sluggish". Once the speed picks up, the mid-to-high range acceleration (for example, overtaking above 80km/h) is also confident. Pressing the accelerator further will prompt the transmission to downshift quickly, ensuring a smooth power connection without noticeable lag. For daily driving, the standard mode is sufficient, but for a more aggressive experience, you can switch to sports mode. The throttle becomes more sensitive, maintaining engine speeds above 2000 RPM for more direct acceleration.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel is relatively light, so even women won’t find it heavy. The dead zone is small, making it very agile for everyday lane changes or U-turns. The chassis is equipped with a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, tuned more for comfort. While going over speed bumps or uneven roads, the suspension filters out most bumps, avoiding harsh impacts. When cornering at high speeds, the body roll is well-controlled and not too pronounced, inspiring enough confidence. The brake pedal feels linear, not overly sensitive at the beginning, but with sufficient braking force in the later travel. It’s easy to control when following cars or during sudden braking.

The fuel economy performance is one of the highlights of this test drive. The officially stated combined fuel consumption is 6.3L/100km. During this test drive, which included urban congested roads (about 40%), highways (about 50%), and rural roads (about 10%) while running the air conditioning throughout, the displayed final fuel consumption was 6.8L/100km, which is not far from the official figures. On purely highway routes, the fuel consumption can drop below 6L. For a 1.5T SUV, this performance is very suitable for daily family commuting. Noise control is also commendable; at a highway speed of 110km/h, wind and tire noise remain within acceptable ranges and won’t affect conversation inside the car. Engine noise only becomes noticeable during hard acceleration, while cruising noise is almost undetectable.

Overall, the core advantages of the 2025 Chery Tiggo Cross Turbo are quite clear: first, it’s "loaded with features." Among vehicles in the same price range, it’s rare to see a car equipped with 6 airbags, ACC, 360-degree panoramic imaging, and dual-zone air conditioning all at once. Second, it’s practical in terms of space, whether it’s the front row, rear row, or the trunk, fully meeting the needs of family users. Third, its dynamic performance is well-balanced, with sufficient power, economical fuel use, and agile handling, without any obvious drawbacks. Compared to similar models like the Honda HR-V 1.5L or Proton X50 1.5T, it offers richer features at a lower price, highlighting its excellent value for money.

This car is most suitable for families who prioritize cost-effectiveness and practicality—for example, young couples needing daily commuting and weekend family outings, or new parents requiring ample space and safety features. It doesn’t have overly aggressive designs nor any significant shortcomings; it’s simply a "does-it-all" family SUV. If your budget is within RM 90k and you’re looking for a well-equipped, spacious, easy-to-drive, and fuel-efficient B-class SUV, the Tiggo Cross Turbo is definitely worth prioritizing.